Visitors who head to Fort Walton Beach, Florida will find that it’s an incredible year-round vacation destination to enjoy. It’s also a place that puts visitors within reach of amazing Florida state parks just waiting to be explored. Just an hour and 45 minutes from Fort Walton Beach, adventurers will find they can easily access Florida Caverns State Park where the immersive beauty of nature can be experienced in a brand-new way both above and below ground.
Florida Caverns State Park
A trip to Florida Caverns State Park is a chance for guests to enjoy everything from stunning stalagmites and stalactites below ground that are arranged alongside flowstones and draperies too. Stepping down into these stunning caves offers up a place to explore where the air is cool and the sound of dripping water is the soundtrack to each and every visit. Guests who choose to spend quality time at Florida Caverns State Park will find themselves connecting with history in a unique way with every visit as well. Before the park was open to the public, it was carefully finished by Civilian Conservation Corps works as far back as the 1930s. Today, chisel marks made by workers enlarging the cave passageways for exploration are still visible. The on-site visitor center is also a testament to these hardworking conservation corps workers.
Florida Caverns State Park is an awe-inspiring place to add to any itinerary and is one of only eight original Civilian Conservation Corps-developed parks that are integrated into the Florida Park Service. While the caverns are certainly a highlight of a visit this way, the park has just as much to offer above ground. A trip here is wonderful for wildlife enthusiasts who are excited to spot everything from bobwhite quail and bobcats to white-tailed deer and while turkeys that roam freely through the park’s parameters. Those visitors who are looking forward to hiking their way through a visit will be thrilled by the trail options that run through the terrain. Both Beech Magnolia Trail and Bluff Trail are accessible from the visitor center and offer adventurers an opportunity to observe some rare Appalachian Mountain species right in the very heart of Florida. The Bluff Trail includes a tunnel cave to explore as well as the disappearing Chipola River right at the boat landing. Across Florida Caverns State Park, there are more than 600 plant species for guests to encounter and admire as well.
Visitors to Florida Caverns State Park won’t want to miss out on the chance to stop at the on-site museum before they go. Here, guests can learn more about the cave formation process in the area and how these underground spaces where designed to provide a place for visitors to tour and explore safely. History buffs will love the fact that Florida Caverns State Park has a rich native tribal history and was also a place that Andrew Jackson visited in pursuit of an experience on the natural bridge. Additionally, there’s a gift shop at Florida Caverns State Park for those who are looking for just the right souvenir to commemorate their visit.
Take a Cave Tour
When you find yourself at Florida state parks, you won’t want to miss out on the chance to take a cave tour. Throughout the park, guests can explore a stunning limestone cave system but booking in advance is always a good idea as guided tours sell out quickly. Tours are offered daily, and prices start at $15 for adults, $8 for kids, and those 2 and under can tour for free. Each tour takes guests on a trip underground where formations are visible that have been thousands of years in the making. Before groups head out, they’ll have a safety session that will go over the protocol for moving through narrow passageways and steep steps. The pre-tour information session will also discuss the fragility of the ecosystem guests are going to encounter. Once a tour group is well-informed of the tour process, they’ll head out. It’s 350 feet to the cave entrance and 35 steps down into the caverns. The temperature averages 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the caverns which are a collection of cave rooms filled with various formations and geological features.
Plan Your Visit to Florida Caverns State Park
Florida Caverns State Park is located at 3345 Caverns Road in Marianna, Florida. The park is open from 8:00 am until Sunday every day of the year. If you arrive by vehicle, it’s $5 to park on-site, and questions regarding a trip to the park can always be directed to 850-482-1228.
Book Your Getaway to Florida Today
When you’re ready to turn travel plans into reality, making your way to Fort Walton Beach is a great option and the team at The Breakers of Fort Walton Beach has the luxurious accommodations in place to top your trip off in style. Reach out to learn more and to get started on your next adventure!
